France Information

Working abroad sounds like an adventure to many people. However, job search in France requires more than just the obvious French CV writing and translation, it requires thorough preparation. You will experience problems that probably did not even come to your mind when you made a decision to try an overseas career.

Do not take too lightly the influence a job in France can have on the outcome of your adventure! For instance, you will experience the diverse immigration rules and practices, strange job application procedures, unfamiliar job candidate selection criteria and out of the ordinary management culture.

Most visits to France are trouble-free but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate international terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners. The French authorities have carried out a number of arrests as a result of investigations into terrorist networks.

Time: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Telephone country code: 33

Internet country code: .fr

Annual vacation: Many offices being practically deserted during Christmas and Easter school closings.

Summer holidays – between 2 Jul and 1 Sep

Autumn holidays - between 25 Oct and 8 Nov

Christmas holidays - between 19 Dec and 3 Jan of next year

Winter holidays – between 7 Feb and 23 Feb

Spring holidays – between 4 Apr and 20 Apr

Public Holidays:

1 Jan - New Year's Day

13 Apr - Easter Monday

1 May - Labor Day

8 May - 1945 Victory Day

1 Jun - Whit Monday

21 May - Ascension

14 Jul - Bastille Day

15 Aug - Assumption

1 Nov - All Saints' Day

11 Nov - Remembrance Day

25 Dec - Christmas Day

Business Hours:

Offices - Mon to Fri 09:00 - 12:00 and 14:00 - 18:00 (flexible)

Banks - weekdays 09:00 – 16:30 (closed in the afternoon before a public holiday), some closed on Saturdays. May be closed for lunch in the provinces

Background: Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a hybrid presidential-parliamentary governing system resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier more purely parliamentary administrations. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common exchange currency, the euro, in January 1999. At present, France is at the forefront of efforts to develop the EU's military capabilities to supplement progress toward an EU foreign policy.